Maria Sharapova joined tennis legends at the International Tennis Hall of Fame on Saturday night, but nobody expected to see Serena Williams walk out to introduce her. The crowd gasped when Williams appeared from behind the stage in Newport, Rhode Island, calling Sharapova her “former rival, former fan, and forever friend.”

The moment caught everyone off guard. Williams, who won 23 Grand Slam titles, will be eligible for her own Hall of Fame spot in 2027. But she chose to honor the woman she faced 22 times on the court, creating one of tennis’s most talked-about rivalries.

What Did Serena Williams Say About Maria Sharapova at the International Tennis Hall of Fame?

As Williams stepped up to the microphone, she addressed the elephant in the room: her unexpected presence at Sharapova’s induction. She said, “Alright, surprise! I know I’m probably the last person you’d be expecting to see here tonight, but honestly, a few years ago, I probably would’ve said the same thing.”

She then explained how she ended up there and how things unfolded between Sharapova and her. “Here’s how it happened. A few months ago, Maria texted me that she needed to talk, and so I thought, ‘Uh-oh, what’s going on, what’s going down, what do I need to jump in, what do I need to do’ right?” This panic by Williams was understandable, given the intensity of their past relationship.

However, what Sharapova wanted from Williams was something she wasn’t expecting. “When I called her, she asked me if I would introduce her into the Hall of Fame, and before she even finished her question, I said yes. Loud, immediately, with my whole chest, because of course, it’s Maria! I was honored,” Williams expressed her readiness to induct Sharapova into the Hall of Fame.

She then talked about their relationship, acknowledging how things weren’t always this good between them while highlighting the similarities in their careers. “Now, let’s be real, Maria and I were once the fiercest of rivals; we had our differences. To the world, we looked miles and miles apart, but the truth is, we weren’t. We wanted the exact same thing, at the exact same time. To be the very best, and in our sport, only one person can walk away with the trophy. And what’s really wrong with wanting to be the best? Nothing, in fact, it’s what drove us. That’s what made our rivalry so electric and so iconic.”

 

Williams explained how the same motives drove both her and Sharapova in their respective careers. Despite being a point of conflict early on, they found peace after recognizing their shared ambitions.

How Did the On-Court Rivalry Between Williams and Sharapova Play Out?

The on-court rivalry between the players saw dominance from Williams, as she holds a crushing record of 20-2 against the Russian. After losing twice in 2004, once in the Wimbledon finals where Williams was the two-time defending champion, Sharapova never beat Williams again in over 15 years.

On the biggest stages, Williams held a staggering 8-1 record, including three of their four major finals. She also secured brutal victories at the 2012 Olympics and multiple other tournaments. Williams held the world number one ranking for 319 weeks compared to Sharapova’s 21 weeks.

Both players achieved significant success in Grand Slams, with Williams capturing 23 majors and Sharapova claiming five. Sharapova became the first Russian to reach number one and was the highest-paid female athlete for 11 straight years.

The ceremony showed how time healed their relationship. Williams called Sharapova someone who “challenged me to be the very best, every single time we stepped out on the court.” Sharapova responded by thanking Williams for “bringing out the best in me” and motivating her to reach new heights.